Rhyming device



May 29, 1962 J. F. SELIGMANN RHYMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1960.

INVENTOR James /7 5e [Kg/Harm ATTORNEY I I! I United States Patent 3,036,386 RHYll/IING DEVICE James F. Seligmann, 321 Ave. C, New York, NY. Filed Dec. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 79,706 4 Claims. (Cl. 35-35) The present invention relates generally to improvements in word constructing devices and it relates more particularly to an improved rhyming device.

In the composing of many forms of poetry it is common to resort to a rhyming dictionary in order to find matching or paired words. This practice possesses numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. It is 'highly timeconsuming procedure requiring the leafing through many pages and the finding andreading of words in an unconventional manner. Furthermore, the available rhyming dictionaries leave much to be desired in that they are usually limited to common words so that the most desirable word is frequently not found and a compromise word is employed so that the thought is not optimumly presented. These dictionaries usually do not contain slang words, esoteric and technical words. Moreover, rhyming dictionaries are of little or no assistance in the coining of new words which may he often used to great advantage.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved word building device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rhyming device.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for constructing rhyming words both of monosyllabic and polysyllabic nature and in which the front and end letter groups or syllables may be matched to any desired corresponding groups.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved rhyming device of the above nature characterized by its versatility, ruggedness, low cost and simplicity.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a rhyming device embodying the present invention, an associated tab element being illustrated in separated condition;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 the tab elements being illustrated in engaged position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a rhyming device comprising a face plate having a window defining opening formed therein, a disc member underlying and supported by said face plate and rotatable about an axis offset relative to said window, said disc having imprinted on the upper face thereof a plurality of circumferentially spaced consonants and consonant groups which may be brought into successive registry with said window, a tab element adapted to having letters marked thereon and means adapted to releasably support said tab element adjacent to a side of said window.

According to a preferred form of the present invention the face plate is similar in outline to the underlying disc and both are provided with radially projecting finger pieces and are coaxially pivoted to each other. The disc imprinted consonants and consonant groups are alphabetically arranged and radially oriented. A plurality of tab elements are provided each having converging opposite longitudinal edges and the tab supporting means are located along radial opposite edges of the face plate window and each includes a pair of spaced upstanding legs adapted to separably engage a tab element. In use the desired word ending and beginning are written on corresponding tabs and located on opposite sides of the window. The consonant disc is rotated to bring successive consonants and consonant groups into registry with the window to form syllable combinations. It is apparent that a substantially limitless number of rhyming combinations can be formed with the subject device which will include not only ordinary words but also archaic, technical and esoteric words as well as highly suggestive combinations which may be advantageously employed.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention the reference numeral 10 generally designates the present improved device which includes upper and lower superimposed discs, 11 and 12 respectively of similar outline, each of the discs being provided with a radially projecting finger piece or tab 13. The discs 11 and 12 are coaxially positioned and are connected by a centrally located rivet pin 14 which permits the relative rotation of the discs. The discs 11 and 12 may be formed of an organic plastic material, metal, cardboard, or other suitable material.

The upper disc 11 defines a face plate and has formed therein a radially extending window defining rectangular opening 16 which is disposed a short distance from the edge of the face plate '11 diametrically opposite the corresponding finger tab 16. Located on radially opposite sides of the window 16 and spaced from the edges thereof are inner and outer support brackets 17 and 18 respectively which are preferably formed integrally with the face plate 1 1. The support brackets 17 and 18 each include a pair of short upstanding legs 19 symmetrically positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the window 16. Each of the legs 19 terminates in a lip section 20 which projects toward and is spaced from the opposite lip section 20 to provide visual access between the lip sections. The underfaces of the lip section 20 are parallel to and closely spaced from the upper face of the disc 11.

The lower or consonant disc 12 has imprinted on-its top face a plurality of radially oriented or extending con sonants and phonetic consonant groups 21 each being of a size to fit within the boundaries of the window 16. The consonants and consonant groups 21 are those conventionally employed and are alphabetically arranged in a circular path concentric with the rivet 14 and spaced therefrom a distance corresponding to that between the rivet 14 and the window 16. Thus by the manipulation of the finger tabs 13 successive consonants and consonant groups 21 may be brought into visual registry with the window 16.

There are provided a plurality of flat elongated trapezoidally shaped tabs 22 which include converging opposite edges 23. The thickness of the tab is preferably slightly less than the spacing between the confronting faces of the lips 19 and face plate 11 and the average width of the tab is preferably about that of the distance between the confronting faces of mating brackt legs 19 so that when the tabs are inserted into engaging registry with the corresponding brackets 17 and 18 the edges thereof aredisposed adjacent the corresponding edges of the window 16 and the inserted tabs 22 and window 16 are in radial alignment. The tabs 22 are formed of a material which readily receives writing or printing and may be of a single use disposable nature or may be subject to ready erasure. Thus the tabs 22 may be formed of paper, cardboard, roughened opaque plastic sheet or the like.

Considering now the operation of the improved rhym- 3 ing device described above, the desired rhyming group is written or otherwise marked in the face of a tab 22 which is then inserted into registry with the bracket 18 and in alignment with the window 16. The finger pieces 13 are then manipulated to rotate the discs 11 and 12 relative to each other and bring successive consonants and consonant groups 21 into registry with the window 16 where they are aligned with the letter group carried by the tab 22 to form corresponding letter combinations among which may be included the desired words or phonetic arrangements. For example, if a word rhyming with the word land is desired, ,the syllable and is written on the tab 22 which is then "inserted in the bracket 18 and the disc 12 is rotated to form the Words band, blandj brand, fgrand, hand," etc. If a word with 'a selected prefix is desired, such prefix is written on a second tab 22 which is inserted into registry with the bracket 17 and the above procedure followed.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous'alterations, omissions, and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto. 7

What is claimed is: e

1. An improved rhyming device of the character described comprising a face plate having a window defining opening formed therein, a disc member underlying and supported by said face plate and rotatable about a point oifset relative to said window, said disc having imprinted on the upper face thereof a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially oriented consonant and consonant groups which may be brought into successive registry with said window, a pair of letter receiving tab elements having longitudinally extending converging opposite edges, and a pair of spaced upstanding legs located adjacent to each of the radially spaced edges of said window and adapted to wedge engage a corresponding tab element and releasably support it in alignment with said window. V

2. A rhyming device according to claim 1 wherein said legs terminate in lips projecting toward each other.

3. A rhyming device according to claim 1 wherein said face plate is defined by a disc having a radially projecting finger piece and said underlying disc is provided with a radially projecting finger piece.

4. A rhyming device according to claim 2 wherein said discs are rotatably connected by a concentric rivet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Oct. 5, 1882 

